Apparatus and method for object tracking in welding process

Abstract

According to an embodiment, an object tracking device in a welding process tracks and outputs a predetermined object in a welding image. The object tracking device comprises a camera device capturing the welding image including a base material and a welding torch for welding the base material, a controller receiving a plurality of camera control parameter-varied images from the camera device, identifying the predetermined object in the received images, and generating an object tracking image, the plurality of camera control parameter-varied images having varied camera control parameters of the camera device, and an output device outputting the welding image captured by the camera device, the plurality of images received by the controller, or the object tracking image generated by the controller.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)[0001]This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0120392, filed on Sep. 18, 2020, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a technology for tracking an object using a camera in a welding process environment with an excessive dynamic range.DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART[0003]The description of the Discussion of Related Art section merely provides information that may be relevant to embodiments of the disclosure but should not be appreciated as necessarily constituting the prior art.[0004]Electric welding (arc welding) is the welding of the same metals by using an air discharge phenomenon. The worker carefully observes the formation of beads and performs welding to obtain the best welding quality.[0005]Laser welding melts and attaches metal part...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a system for improving the visibility of a welding tip in a welding image. The controller adjusts the camera sensor color gain value to allow the welding light to have a relatively low wavelength band, making the welding tip clearer. The system can also perform pre-treatment to remove or reduce a black image captured by the camera device. The control parameters, such as the camera gain value or exposure value, can be automatically adjusted based on a target object designated by the user. This allows for real-time identification and tracking of the target object in the welding image. Overall, the system improves the visibility of the welding process and makes it more efficient.

Problems solved by technology

Laser welding may cause errors in the welding process because it is performed while the worker checks the process with his eyes.

Thus, laser welding has restrictions in welding delicate and fine parts.

In this case, the worker may not properly grasp the welding situation due to the light generated during welding or the surrounding environment.

However, since the camera adjusts the exposure value based on the average value of the overall image brightness values, if exposed to the light much brighter or darker than the average image brightness, the worker may fail to temporarily identify the welding torch or a specific object through the welding process image, and thus welding quality may be deteriorated.

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